UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LOSES A HEARTBREAKER TO NW MISSOURI STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston Women’s Basketball team led for most of the game, but a strong fourth quarter by Northwest Missouri State was the difference in a 66-64 victory in a game played in the University of Nebraska-Kearney Classic.

FIRST QUARTER –
UMC trailed 4-2 when they went on an 8-0 run behind three points from Julia Peplinski, a three-pointer from Ashley Freund and a basket apiece from Paige Cornale and Abby Guidinger for a 12-4 lead halfway through the first quarter. The Golden Eagles withstood a run and Bren Fox scored a basket in the final minute of the quarter for a 16-9 lead.

SECOND QUARTER –
UMC led 18-13 when they went on a 7-0 run with two free throws from Kylie Post before Ashley Freund made her second three-pointer of the game, and Post followed with a layup for a 27-13 lead. Over the next five minutes, Northwest Missouri State chipped away at the UMC lead to get within a 32-28 deficit, but Bren Fox made four free throws in the final minute and the Golden Eagles took a 36-31 lead into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER –
UMC made four free throws in the first couple of minutes of the second half to take a 40-31 lead. NW Missouri State answered with an 8-0 run to get with a 40-39 deficit with 4:57 left in the quarter. Ashley Freund made her third three-pointer of the game and Julia Peplinski added a free throw for a 44-39 lead. The teams exchanged points the rest of the way and UMC took a 50-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER –
Northwest Missouri State made three three-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter and added a basket for a 57-52 lead with 7:49 left in the game. Neither team scored for almost three minutes of play and UMC finally broke the scoring drought with a Peplinski free throw. NW Missouri State built a 64-57 lead with two minutes remaining before UMC answered with a 5-0 run behind three points from Peplinski and a layup from Freund to get within a 64-62 deficit with 65 seconds left. UMC tied the game with another Peplinski basket and with 23 seconds left the game was tied at 64-64. NW Missouri State was fouled with five seconds left in the game and made two free throws to take a 66-64 lead. UMC missed a shot in the paint with one second left and NW Missouri State held on for a 66-64 victory.

UMC drops to 0-2 on the year and will travel to Hawaii for two games next week. Northwest Missouri State improves to 1-1 on the year.